Croft



No Model.) 3 sheets-shet 1.

J. Is THORNYGROFT.

LUBRICATOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. I. THORNYGROFT.

LUBRIGATOR.

'(No Model.)

. will Wimsse @KW awASMINToN nc (No Model.) 3 sheets-sheen 8. J. I.THORNYCROPT. LUBRICATOR.

No. 554,801. Patented Peb. '18, 1896.

IINTTnD STATES d PATnNT Orricn.

JOHN ISAAC THORNYOROFT, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LUBRICATO R.

EEESFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,801, dated February18, 1896.

Application filed .Tune 13., 1893. Serial No. 477,439. (No model.)vPatented in England November 25, 1892, No. 21,532; in France May 24,1893,No. 230,295, and in Germany May 27,1893. No. 77,755.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN ISAAC THonNY- CROFT, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at OhisWick,London, in the county ofMiddlesex, England, have invented Improvements in Oil-Feeders orApparatus for Supplying Lubricant toY Steam-Engines and other Machines,(for Which I have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, datedNovember 25, 1892, No. 21,532; in France, dated May 24,1893, No.230,295, and in Germany, dated May 27, 1393, No. 77,755,) of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention of improvements in oil-feeders or apparatusfor feeding lubricant to steam-engines and other machines is to producean eiiicient oil-feeder adapted for lubricating Working parts of marineand other steam-engines and other machines, and which will stop andstart with the engine or machine to which it is applied, will vary itsrate of feed with that of such engine or machine When a change invelocity occurs, and which shall be simple in construction andoperation.

In an apparatus for this purpose, according to my invention, oilcontained in a vessel is lifted by a moving surface to a point above theoil-delivery outlet. From this point it flows into a small groove orgrooves in an inclined piece (hereinafter called for distinction anoil-conveyer) extending over the oildelivery outlet. Into such a grooveoil will floW so long as the surface of the oil in the groove isconcave, even against the force of gravity, because the surface-tensionof the liquid in this case reduces the pressure in the groove or groovesand, with such an arrangement as indicated, the groove or grooves beingso inclined as to deliver the oil over the oil-delivery outlet, it Willbe evident that by adjusting the size and number of grooves used anyparticular rate of feed can be assured because the grooves can becleaned Without danger of changing their capacity to convey oil; butalthough the maximum amount of oil that can be fed is naturallydetermined by the size and number of grooves employed it Will be evidentthat the rate at which the lifting-surface moves may be soadconstruction of such apparatus.

vbearings ifL 7l in the casing 1.

justed as to reduce the flow by only bringing up the oil at arate lessthan that necessary to fill the groove or grooves, and in this Way afeeder may be made to vary the supply given with the speed of the engineor machine and to stop at once With the motion of the engine or machine.I prefer to use a cylinder, partly immersed in the oil to be fed, as themoving surface. On this a number of grooved oilfeeders may partly restand serve for as many separate feeders for different parts of an engineor machine, as I Will now proceed to explain by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a vertical section, andFig. 2 a sectional plan, of one construction of oil-feed ing apparatusaccording to this invention. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are respectively across-section, a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, and a frontview, illustrating a modified Figs. 6 to 14, inclusive, are detail viewsillustrating modified forms of oil-conveyers.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 is a easing of circular form in plan, andthe interior of which serves as a receptacle 2 for the oil to be fed.This casing is formed internally With a number of tubular extensions 3,that serve as oildelivery outlets into Which oil is fed by theoil-conveyers, as hereinafter described, and to the loWer end of each ofWhich is secured a pipe 4 for conveying the oil to the place Where it isto be used.

5 is a cylinder mounted to rotate partly Within the oil in thereceptacle 2 so as to raise oil therefrom upon its cylindrical surfaceto a point above the top of the outlets 3. This cylinder may be drivenin various Ways. In the example now being described it is looselymounted at its ends upon two disks 6 and 6, carried by a driving-shaft7, supported in The disk 6 is fixed to the said shaft so as to rotatetherewith, and to it is fixed at 8 one end of a coiled metal strip orspring 9, adapted to lit the interior of the cylinder. The other disk 6ais loosely mounted upon the shaft 7, and is prevented from rotatingtherewith by a projection 10, that is carried by the said disk andenters a recess 11 in a fixed part 12 of the cas- IOO ing. This disk (5has also fixed to it at 8 a coiled metal strip or sprin arranged to fitthe interior of the said cylinder.

13 is a ring or annular flange fixed to the interior of the cylinderbetween the inner ends of the two coiled strips El f). The outer end ofthe drivin g-shaft 7 is provided with an arm it with pin l5, by means ofwhich arocking motion can be imparted to the shaft by means of aneccentric and rod. (Not shown.) By this arrangement, when thedriving-shaft is rocked in the direction of the arrow a, the coiledmetal strip i) will be caused to expand and grip the interior ol' thecylinder 5 so as to partly rotate the cylinder, which then slides incontact with the coiled strip 9 in a direc tion to contract such strip.\Vhen the shaft is rocked in the opposite direction, the coiled strip f)will be slightly contracted so as to rclease the cylinder, which willthen be pre vented from rotating backward with the disk (i and shaft bythe coiled strip 9, which will expand and tightly iit the interior ofthe cylinder when the cylinder tends to move backward with the disk (i.Thus an iiltermittent rotary movement will be imparted to the cylinder.

lf3 is an oil-eonveyer formed with a hook 17, by which it can be partlysupported by a rod 18, so as to rest in an inclined position upon theouter surface of the cylinder 5, as shown in Fig. l. ln the arrangementof. apparatus now being described there would be three suchoil-eonveyers, one for each oil-delivery outlet V4lach oil-conveyor,which may consist of a short metal bar, is according to this inventionformed at one or at each et' its flat sides with an oil-groove 19, thatextends lengthwise et the conveyer and is in proximityl to the surfaceof the cylinder, so that when the conveyor is in the position shown inFig. l and the cylinder 5 is rotated inthe direction of the arrow a-thatis to say, in a direction toward the upper end of the oil-conveyer-oilwill pass from the part of the surface ot the cylinder upon which theconveyer rests to the groove or grooves, even against the force oi'gravity, so long as the surface of the oil in the groove is concave, asseen in cross-section, because the surface-tension of the liquid in thiscase reduces the pressure in the groove or grooves, as hereinbeforestated and as will be readily understood. The groove or grooves beingdownwardly inclined, the oil entering it or them will flow to the lowerend of the conveyor in an opposite direction to that in which it islifted by the cylinder and drop into the oildelivery outlet 3 below,whence it will pass by the corresponding pipe 4- to the part to belubricated. By the construction and arrangementdescribed the requiredrate of feed of oil can be obtained in a very accurate manner.

Oil-conveyers adapted io operate as described may have the oil groove orgrooves formed and arranged in various ways.

In the example shown in side elevation. in Fig. 6 and in cross-sectionin Fig. 7 the oil conveyer is formed with two slnall separate andsimilar oil-grooves 1f), one at cach side of the piece of metal of whichthe conveyor is iliade.

ln the example shown in Figs. 8 and f) the oil-groove at one side ismade wider and deeper than the one at the other side, with which itmaybe connected, as shown, by a transverse groove lflf.

In the example shown in Figs. fl() and llV the oilsconveyer consists ofa number of thin plates 1GX secured together at the ends and arranged ashort dista-nce apart so as to form a number of oilchannels lf) open atthe top. The grooves instead of being formed at the sides or on the topof the oil-conveyer may be formed at the under side thereof; but lf donot' consider this so advantageous a position as the others as the flowoi' oil is liable to be interfered with by air-lnibbles that might enterthe grooves, and which in such a construction could not readily escape;also, the oil-conveyer instead of being made in one piece oi' metal orother non-absorbent material or of a number ot' thin plates arrangedside by side might be otherwise constructed. Thus it may consist of twoor more wires arranged sidewise in relation to each other and either incontact or at a short distance apart.

In the example shown in Figs. l2, lf3, and 14, which are respectively aside elevation, a cross-section, and a plan, the oil-grooves are formedupon the upper side of the metal bar forming the oil-conveyor, which isslotted at its upper end, as shown at lll", to permit the oil to pass tothe said grooves from the sur face of the cylinder 5 on which it rests,and which revolves in a direction away from the said grooves. Thequantity of oil fed in a given time, by the means described, will varywith the speed of the cylinder 5 and the cross-sectional area of thegroove or grooves lf) in the oil-conveyer lf3, the quantity in creasingwith an increase of speed oi the cylinder and with an increase inerosf-5-seefional area of the groove or grooves. ly providing a numberof oil-conveyers with grooves ot different cross-sectional areas, anyone or more oll which can be used at will, different rates of deliveryof oil can be provided for without changing the speed of the cylinder 5.

In the modified constrl'iction of? oil-feeding apparatus shown in Figs.i3, Ll, and. 5 the casing l is provided at its front side with anopening 2f), fitted with a plate of glass 2l, through which the rate atwhich oil is i" ed by the oil-conveyers to the oil-delivery outlets 3can be readily observed. The cylinder 5 is shown in this example asfixed upon its shaft 7, to the outer end of which is fixed a pulley li",by which it and the cylinderl 5 can be IOO IIO

driven in a continuous manner, if desired, and at any required rate ofspeed, from a suitable moving part of the engine or machine to which theoil-feeding apparatus is applied.

22 is a glass tube, which serves as a gageglass to indicate the heightof the oil in the said receptacle. This tube is carried by twoextensions 23 23a, the lower of which is in communication with theinterior of the casing and the upper of which is fitted with a screw 24,that serves to hold the glass tube 22 in place and has an air holeextending throughit. IVashers 25, of suitable material, such as leatheror asbestos, may be inserted between the ends of the glass tube and theparts between which they are held in order to obtain a tight joint andprevent fracture of the glass tube.

1 is a holder for spare-oil conveyers.

Two or more oil-conveyers 16 of the kind described may be employed tofeed oil to each delivery-outlet 3, these conveyers being so constructedand operated that one or more of them can be placed in or out of actionaccording to the rate at which it is desired to feed oil to the part tobe lubricated. In the example shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 there are twooil-conveyers 16 16=L to each oildelivery outlet 3. To enable one, 16,of each pair to be placed out of action, it is made longer than theother, 16, and below the upper projecting ends of the longer ones isarranged a movable wire rod 26, carried by wire supports 27, thatarecapable of turning about the fixed bosses 2S within the casing 1, andone of which has connected to it a handle 29, that passes through a slotin the front side of the casing.

As will be seen the arrangement is such' that by moving the wire rod 26forward by the handle 29 it will raise the longer oil-conveyers 16 outof contact with the cylinder and so place them out of action, and bymoving the wire rod back again the said oil-convey ers will be permittedto fall back onto the cylinder in position for use. The handle 29 may beprovided with projections 29 29h, adapted to engage with the outer frontend of the slot through which the handle passes and hold the wire rod 26in its operative or inoperative positions, as may be required.

When the apparatus is constructed to supply oil to a number of bearingsor other parts, there may be provided in connection with eachsupply-pipe 4: a plate or tablet bearing the name or initials of thename of the bearing or part to which oil is supplied by the pipe. Platesor tablets for this purpose are indicated at 30 in Figs. 3 and 5. Bythis means the conveyers supplying oil to any bearing or part can bereadily determined for the purpose of enabling the supply of oil to suchbearing or part to be regulated.

Vhat I claim is- 1. In oil-feeding apparatus, the combination with amovable device to the upper and outer surface of which oil is supplied,of an inclined oil-conveyer arranged in contact with and so as toproject at each end beyond said surface and having'one or more inclinedoilgrooves arranged below its upper surface and in proximity to the partof the surface against which the said conveyer bears and which or eachof which is adapted to act as a capillary conduit to siphonoff oil fromsaid surface, substantially as herein described.

2. In oil-feeding apparatus, the combination with a movable body to theouter surface of which oil is supplied in a direction opposed to thedirection of gravity, of an oil-conveyer consisting of a strip of;material arranged to rest in an inclined position against and project ateach end beyond the said surface and provided with one or more inclinedgrooves adapted to act as a capillary conduit or conduits for oil on thesurface of said movable body, substantially as herein described.

3. In oil-feeding apparatus, the combination with a rotary body havingan outer curved surface to which oil is supplied, of an oil-conveyerconsisting of a strip of material arranged tangentially to and so as toproject at each end beyond said surface and formed with one or moreinclined oil-grooves 19 arranged in proximity to and extending' in eachdirection from and beyond the point of contact of said oil-conveyer withsaid surface, and means for imparting ascending movement to the surfaceof the rotary body in contact with said conveyer, substantially asherein described, for the purpose specified.

4L. In oil-feeding apparatus, the combination of a movable surface towhich oil is supplied, oil-conveyers each formed with one or moreoil-grooves and capable of resting against said movable surface so thatthe groove or grooves therein will be inclined, and means for throwingsome of said oil-conveyers in and out of action, substantially as hereindescribed for the purpose specified.

5. Oil-feeding apparatus comprising a casing serving as anoil-receptacle and provided with one or more oil-delivery outlets, oneor more stationary oil-conveyers 16 inclined to the horizontal and eachformed with one or more grooves 19 also inclined to the horizontal, acylinder 5 against which said oil conveyer or conveyers rest, and meansfor rotating said cylinder in a direction to lift oil from saidreceptacle and supply it to said conveyer or conveyers in a directionopposite to that in which a portion of it will be subsequently conveyedby said oil-grooves substantially as herein described.

6. Oil-feeding apparatus comprising an oilreceptacle, one or moreoil-delivery outlets the lower ends of which are adapted to be placed incommunication with the parts of an engine or machine to be lubricated, acylinder mounted to rotate in said receptacle, one or more oilconveyersarranged to rest in an inclined attitude upon said cylinder and eachformed with one or more grooves adapted to IOO IIO

receive oil from the surface of said cylinder and lead it awaytherefrom, and means for imparting an intermittent rotary motion to saidcylinder in such a direction that the part of the surface thereofagainst which the oil conveyer or conveycrs rest or rests will move inan opposite direction to that in which the oil will be conveyed by saidoil groove or grooves, substantially as herein described.

7. Oil-feeding apparatus comprising a casing provided with an internaloil-receptacle and with one or more oil-delivery outlets the lower endsof which are adapted to be placed in communication with the part orparts of an engine or machine to be lubricated, a cylinder mounted torotate in said oil-receptacle, disks whereon said drum is looselymounted, a rock-shaft to which one of said disks is iixed and whereonthe other is loosely fitted, coiled strips connected each at one end toone of said disks and arranged to lit the interior of said cylinder, andone or more 'oilconveyors arranged to rest against said cylinder andeach formed with an oil groove or grooves inclined to the horizontal andhaving its delivery end terminating above an oildelivery outlet,substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specilication in thepresence oi two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN ISAAC THORNYCROFR XVitn esses:

EDMUND S. SNEWIN, Pliner E. WA'rrocKs.

